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Sports
From Railway Benches to Global Chess: Udaipur’s Chandrajeet Singh Rajawat Makes History
✍️ Times of India
🗓 20 Aug 2026, 09:42 AM
👁 5
Chandrajeet Singh Rajawat, who left home as a teenager and endured homelessness, has become Rajasthan’s first grandmaster, bringing Udaipur into the international chess spotlight.
Chandrajeet Singh Rajawat grew up in modest circumstances in Udaipur and ran away from home as a teenager. Financial hardship forced him to sleep on railway platforms and stadium grounds, yet he continued to practice chess whenever a board was available.
Despite the instability, his dedication paid off. Rajawat steadily improved his rating, secured coaching stints and eventually earned the Grandmaster title, becoming the first player from Rajasthan to achieve this distinction and putting his hometown on the global chess map.
Leveraging his success, he launched the Kingdom of Chess academy, which now operates in roughly thirty countries. The academy offers structured training to children and adults, aiming to use chess as a vehicle for cognitive development and social upliftment.
His journey has resonated across the state, inspiring many under‑privileged youths to pursue the game, while local authorities have begun to recognize the role of chess in education and talent development.
Despite the instability, his dedication paid off. Rajawat steadily improved his rating, secured coaching stints and eventually earned the Grandmaster title, becoming the first player from Rajasthan to achieve this distinction and putting his hometown on the global chess map.
Leveraging his success, he launched the Kingdom of Chess academy, which now operates in roughly thirty countries. The academy offers structured training to children and adults, aiming to use chess as a vehicle for cognitive development and social upliftment.
His journey has resonated across the state, inspiring many under‑privileged youths to pursue the game, while local authorities have begun to recognize the role of chess in education and talent development.